CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The 112th Chicago to Mackinac Race — the longest annual freshwater sailing race in the world — begins Friday.
The Race to Mackinac was last held in 2019 and took a pause last year during the pandemic.
“When you look at number of boats, number of sailors, we’re down about 12 percent or so,” said Martin Sandoval, the chairman of the Chicago Race to Mackinac.
The pandemic has affected some people’s plans, he said, while others who tried to make plans to sail couldn’t because supplies were scarce.
This will be Sandoval’s 20th Mackinac Race. He’ll be on his boat, Karma, for the 333-mile race to Mackinac Island.
“We won’t have a full moon this year, but it’s spectacular sailing at night. You get to see all the stars. It’s just quiet. You hear the water passing next to the boat,” he said.
Some of the boats start Saturday. Sandoval said Navy Pier from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is a good time to watch them set sail.
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